News


Residents get into the festive spirit


Borough Care residents and their families got into the festive spirit at a Christmas tea dance, held at Offerton Community Centre. During the afternoon, various singers


provided entertainment for residents to dance and sing along to. Stockport’s Intergeneration Choir, of which some Borough Care residents and staff are members, sang a number of Christmas songs and carols. Borough Care’s team of activity lifestyle


facilitators also devised and put on a performance entitled ‘Alf’s Christmas Carol’, which involved the team dressing up and singing various carols. Sophie Gardiner, area manager at


Borough Care, says: “It was an incredible event, which everyone looks forward to each year. It’s a time for staff, health professionals, residents and their families to come together to celebrate the festive season. “Our residents and their families enjoy the social aspect of the monthly tea dances we host, which culminate in the Christmas tea dance. The dances are also open to the local


community and provide a great opportunity for different generations to socialise and have fun together.” During the afternoon, residents enjoyed lots of singing and dancing. Borough Care’s head office team dressed up as elves, as it was also the company’s Elf Day. They were on hand to get the party started and mingle with residents. Residents and guests tucked into hot


turkey and stuffing sandwiches and mince pies, along with a glass of Bucks Fizz.


Two Braintree care homes win awards


A passion for providing delicious and nutritious food and a varied programme of activities to promote wellbeing have led to awards for two Braintree care homes. The New Deanery and St Mary’s Court in Bocking scooped the Essex Care Sector Prosper Awards for Activities and Wellbeing and Diet, Nutrition and Hydration. Chef Paul Westall won the Diet, Nutrition


and Hydration Award for the second year running, with the judges praising his pride in how food is presented and his use of local suppliers for fresh, wholesome ingredients. They said: “Passionate about ensuring


residents enjoy delicious and nutritious food and drink, Paul ensures personal preferences are taken into account.” They highlighted his efforts to make food appetising for those who require a pureed soft diet and to create individual food plans maximising dietary intake for those whose health is deteriorating. The judges added: “He promotes


protected meal times to create an unhurried experience. Paul makes time to speak to residents about their meals, acting upon any feedback received.” Activities manager Jo Whitehouse and her team won the Activities and Wellbeing


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Award – less than a month after Jo scooped the Care Home Activity Organiser award at the Great British Care Awards, East of England. The Prospers judges praised the activities


team for creating “a programme of activities to encompass all interests.” They said the activities, which range from arts, crafts, quizzes and games to gardening, bowling and swimming - as well as regular trips out and takeaway evenings – enhanced independence and wellbeing. They added: “Regular monthly residents’


forums are held to discuss what activities they would like.” Julia Clinton, CEO of Sonnet Care Homes, which runs The New Deanery and neighbouring St Mary’s Court, said: “Our whole team does a fantastic job to give our residents choice and independence, ensuring they can choose how they spend their time and what they like to eat. We are so pleased they have been recognised for their professionalism and quality of service.” The Prosper Awards showcase the hard work and dedication in the care sector in Essex and celebrate innovative practice and outstanding achievement.


Work progresses


at Candle Court DWA Architects is helping to breathe new life into a vacant care home site that will see it transformed and extended into a modern 86-bedroom care facility. Work is now underway at the Candle Court site, which is located in Cricklewood, North West London, and it is hoped it will be fully completed by next summer. It is owned and will be operated by TLC Care, which also has award winning care homes in the South East. The proposals are to completely


reconfigure the existing building to bring it up to modern care standards and massively improve the communal facilities as well as creating a significant extension at the back of the site. David Ward, managing director of York-


based DWA Architects, says: “This has been a very interesting project to bring this old care home back into use and to ensure it is up to modern standards. We have been able to reconfigure the whole building so it will suit residents’ needs when it is completed.”


ICO takes action over data protection fee


The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has begun formal enforcement action against care homes that have failed to pay the data protection fee. The data protection regulator has sent notices of its intent to fine the businesses unless they pay; those that don’t could face a maximum fine of £600. The ICO recently sent out the first fines to more than 100 organisations across a range of sectors for non-payment of the fee. All organisations that process personal data


must pay a fee to the ICO and are then listed on its register of data controllers. The care home sector is currently under represented on this register. There are exemptions from paying the fee,


but care homes process particularly sensitive personal information for health administration and patient care purposes and are therefore not exempt. Paul Arnold, deputy chief executive officer


at the ICO, says: ”We expect the notices we have issued to serve as a final demand to these businesses and that they will pay before we proceed to a fine, but we will not hesitate to use our powers if necessary. “All organisations that are required to pay


the data protection fee must prioritise payment or risk getting a formal letter from us outlining enforcement action.”


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • January 2019


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